3/22/01
Mazzio begins final season at A.I. with eye on soccer reunion
by Kevin Tresolini - Staff Reporter
When he became Wittenberg College women's soccer coach in August 1999, Fran Kulas said quick goodbyes to the Alexis I. du Pont High players he coached to a state title that spring.
In the case of one, Kate Mazzio, he hoped it was a see-you-later parting.
Now Mazzio is an A.I. senior and state player-of-the-year candidate, poised to begin what she hopes to be a banner season in tonight's weather-threatened opener at home against Delcastle. Today is the opening day of high school spring sports competition.
Mazzio goes into it comforted by the knowledge of where she's going next: to Wittenberg this fall to play for Kulas.
She'll attend the Springfield, Ohio, school on a partial academic scholarship and join Kulas' up-and-coming NCAA Division III soccer team, which went 10-7 in 2000 with 16 freshmen on the roster. That was Wittenberg's first winning record since 1995.
"I've been recruiting her since I left,'' said Kulas, a Glasgow High and University of Delaware graduate. "We flew her out here in the fall and the kids loved her. They've been asking about her ever since.''
In her final game for Kulas, the 1999 state final, Mazzio scored both goals, the second in overtime, as A.I. edged St. Mark's 2-1.
A striker, Mazzio will take her determined approach, nose for the goal and rainbow of hair colors (presently fuchsia) to Wittenberg.
She's scored 33 goals and assisted on 15 in two varsity seasons. Mazzio was a first-team All-State selection in 1999 and 2000.
"I liked his coaching style and I was looking for the kind of school where he was,'' Mazzio said of her impending reunion with Kulas at Wittenberg. "It seemed to be the same kind of program he ran here, because of everybody's dedication to the team.
"I don't like to lose and I'm very competitive. He keeps it that way through practice, and he's very organized and keeps it interesting. I'm looking forward to playing there.''
A.I., ranked second in the state behind St. Mark's, will depend on Mazzio and Jessica Natalie to help overcome the loss of five other All-State players.
"It's kind of a blessing for a first-year coach to have a player like Katie Mazzio,'' said Scott Emert, A.I.'s fourth coach in as many years.
"She's probably the best player I've ever coached. She has it all, and she's very unpredictable.''
Kulas noticed that creativity as well and looks forward to becoming reacquainted with it at Wittenberg this fall.